From Slaves to Kings - (individual single releases).

Picture source: http://www.kilo943.com/2013/04/page/4/

Artist: From Slaves to Kings - (individual single releases). 

Singles - individual releases
Genre: rock, metal 

Listen to their latest singles

Fans of Avenged Sevenfold, As I Lay Dying and Five Finger Death Punch rejoice - the latest addition to this hard-rock family is Texan-born quintet: From Slaves to Kings. With killer guitar riffs, catchy choruses and a traditional rock/nu metal-esque sound, the band is gaining attention with each release of individual tracks throughout the year. 

Considering each other 'brothers' both on and off the stage, the band has a chemistry that flows through their music and on to their live performances. Praised for their energetic stage performance, From Slaves to Kings have worked towards rock royalty: winning a series of accolades within their home town of Colorado for first place in the Indy Music Awards, People's Choice winner for Best Progressive Hard-Rock Band and Best Vocalist categories. 

Opening for rock band Hoobastank, 12 Stones and I Wrestled a Bear Once, the band has increasingly gained momentum since its inception in 2011. Regular appearances on online radio streaming sites such as Pandora.com have seen the band's fan base grow into the thousands, hailing not only from America, but to a further worldwide audience. 

From Slaves to Kings - (individual single releases).

As of late, the band has focussed on providing their fans with some fresh new music. Teasing the masses with snippets of their upcoming track 'Feeding the Flies' via Soundcloud links, the band is preparing for more songs at a faster pace. Unfortunately for From Slaves To Kings, however, the focus on creating this music has caused a lapse in the number of live shows played in the past months, in comparison to October of the previous year. From Slaves to Kings assure that the band is 'back on track', playing gigs throughout the month to concert-hungry fans. 

Part of the band's enticing live performance is the ability to sing along to the catchy choruses. In particular, the song listed 'Track 5' is a great example of this - FSTK are able to create the same heavy rock ambience that fans crave, without compromising the use of lead singer Jason Coahran's clean vocal work. From Slaves to Kings are unique in the sense that for a rock band, they do not require the hyper-usage of screaming or overtly grungy vocals; instead focussing on perfecting a high-quality and well-established sound without taking away from the band's genuine talent and authentic atmosphere. 

Overall, the band appear to have a chemistry between them that is both effective and original both within their studio music and live renditions. However, From Slaves to Kings still have a long path before them. With a full studio album yet to be released, it may be a short while before the band take the throne to rule the hard-rock charts. Nevertheless, the band has both a promising outlook and killer sounds to boot. Both fans of FSTK and onlookers of the rock scene are warned: Watch this space and remember the name. 

From Slaves to Kings are currently playing across Colarado Springs. You can reach the band via Facebook, Twitter or Reverbnation pages for news, upcoming gigs and additional information. 

By Lily Pavlovic posted 15 October 2013, for STSBM

A Course of Action - Singles: 107 and Who We Are.

Picture source: http://www.untappedradio.com/

Artist: A Course of Action

Singles: 107 & Who We Are

Genre: rock, metal 

Listen to the single 107

North Carolina quartet A Course of Action are considered 'the band next door' - resonating with many  fans as 'four normal guys from the South making great rock music'. However, their latest releases '107' and 'Who We Are' have exposed their talent to a whole new level - becoming the talk of the town in the rock and metal spectrum.

Neighbouring on bands such as Sevendust, Five-Finger Death Punch and Alter-Bridge, A Course of Action are rapidly drawing attention from fans across America and gaining an international following since their single releases. Playing weekly shows across the south in the U.S, the band is gaining a loyal following with enthusiastic live performances and a quality sound.

A Course of Action - Singles: 107 and Who We Are. 

The band's first debut studio album, Dark Before the Dawn stands as a testament to 'hard work paying off' for the band. After months of production, the nine track album rose to both domestic and international success - with album tracks playing on stations Q Star Radio and Occupation Radio, and online stations Jango Music, IndyPalooza, and Raidio Corca Baiscinn (Ireland) providing increased exposure for a growing number of fans. 

Now, A Course of Action are expanding on thematic structures, sonic richness and a solid rock base within their most recent releases, '107' and 'Who We Are'. '107' in particular is the band's triumph: providing a seamless mainstream metal sound that is carried out with expert precision and diligence. With a Stone Sour-esque vibe to the chorus, metal and rock fans can't help but become absorbed in the rough vocals, clever lyrics and killer guitar-shreding solos characteristic of classic rock and metal sound.

'107' has become increasingly more popular with fans since its release. It is a prime example of the band's capabilities, however both fans and reviewers alike urge ACOA not to rest on their laurels just yet - as the track allows room to both progress and develop in future albums in terms of finding a niche for themselves, and developing from classic genres to a more diverse and original sound.

'Who We Are' to an extent demonstrates some of these capabilities. This track slows down the tempo in comparison to the band's other releases, showcasing the band's adaptability to both hard and soft rock styles. However, in doing so, the chorus is perhaps not as punchy as 107 and tracks from Dark Before the Dawn. 'Who We Are' is best suited for fans of  bands such as Creed or Shinedown, as it is a distinct step away from the hard rock of the band's previous work. 

By juxtaposing 'Who We Are' with the band's former releases, it is difficult to speculate where ACOA may head in the future. With glimpses of diverse directions to which they may lead, it will be interesting to see whether the band continues their hard-rock roots, or branches out into softer rock sub-genres seen in their latest tracks. 

Either way, A Course of Action seem to be on the path to success. With a plethora of live shows on the horizon, fans will love whatever course the band decides to take. 

You can visit their OFFICIAL website here

By Lily Pavlovic posted 15 October 2013, for STSBM

Matchstickmen - Acoustic Grooves to Soothe The Soul.

Picture source: https://www.facebook.com/Matchstickmen.band

Artist: Matchstickmen

Album:  Acoustic Grooves to Soothe The Soul.

Genre: acoustic, rock, alternative

Listen to songs from their past album Make Mountains:

Liverpool lads Matchstickmen are turning alternative rock into acoustics with a more mellowed release of music in their latest 2013 EP, ‘’Acoustic Grooves To Soothe The Soul’. 

Adapting music from their previous works, the band are incorporating their greatest-hits from 'Through Hell... And Kept Going' (the band's 2011 album release),  'A Change in Season' (2012 EP) and unreleased material from prior workings within the band. As a result, Acoustic Grooves to Soothe the Soul takes a stunning snapshot of Matchstickmen's best work, and displays it in a revised format to which fans can experience their favourite songs all over again in a more intimate and mellowed setting. 

Matchstickmen - Acoustic Grooves to Soothe The Soul.

In their original content, the band are compared to American rockers Pearl Jam, Shinedown and Alter-Bridge - all established artists in the chart-topping rock field. The band's sound takes on a mainstream rock form that is not unlike the beginning albums of these bands, retaining an 'aggressive' style that is ore comparable to classic rock, while maintaining softer stylistic elements such as catchy choruses and a pop-rock twist to appeal to both classic rock lovers and newcomers alike. 

Furthermore, Matchstickmen's release of a varied sound in Acoustic Grooves To Soothe The Soul is a strategically beneficial move for the band to appeal to a broader audience and increase the fan-base in an increasingly developmental and progressive time for the band. By utilising previous releases, Matchstickmen not only allures new fans who prefer more acoustic renditions of rock music, but also eager fans who enjoy back-tracking the new release to find out more information about Matchstickmen's previous releases. 

Most notable of the re-releases is 'Jealous Times'. Retaining the husky vocals of lead singer Lewis Wright throughout, the Acoustic Grooves version retains it's somewhat grungy and raw vibe, while maintaining an upbeat strummed rhythm throughout - providing a relaxing atmospherical notion that is in most cases, detached from the 'noise' that surrounds rock music as a genre. 

The acoustic rendition of Matchstickmen's songs also allow the listener to appreciate the clever lyrical work used by the band. 'Dark Blue' is especially poignant, delivering the lyrics in a more concise and impacting mode. The adaptability of the band's sound is impressive in this particular track- as the atmosphere changes from a dense, grungy narrative into a traveller's journey focussing more on the need to escape from a downward-spiraling 'dark-blue' life. The emphasis of Matchstickmen's lyrics seem to change dependant on the genre by which the band is displaying. 

As a result, it is a rewarding task to listen to both the band's original works in order to juxtapose the Acoustic Grooves album with previous works such as  'Through Hell... And Kept Going'  and  'A Change in Season'.  Both versions of the songs produced showcase an array of talent from each member of the band, and provide the listener with rock music that is both engaging and easy on the ear. 

Following their acoustic release, the band is looking to revert to their original rock sound for an upcoming album release in 2014. To find out more about Matchstickmen's upcoming album, or to listen to a copy of ‘’Acoustic Grooves To Soothe The Soul’ click: here

By Lily Pavlovic posted Wed 25 September, 2013, for STSBM

Mr Kito - The Middle of Everything

Picture source: http://mrkito.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Mr Kito

Track: The Middle of Everything

Genre: rock, alternative, indie

Mr. Kito is the result of Frenchman Eric Michot, who currently resides and produces music in Cape Town, South Africa. Michot is a multi-instrumentalist, who not only sings as Mr. Kito, but also produces the accompanying music that complements it. The result of Mr. Kito's solo work is highly ambitious - the dedicated performer releasing 'The Middle of Everything' as his sixth album to date. Beginning to write and produce songs in 2012, and then creating the 'Mr. Kito' project in 2013, it is at an impressive speed that Michot releases his albums. In March 2013, Michot released four albums at once on a range of online platforms, including Bandcamp, Myspace and Soundcloud. 

Mr Kito - The Middle of Everything

Alternative rock one-man-band Mr. Kito is exploring new territories in his experimental new album, 'The Middle of Everything'. The album, released 12 August 2013, is dubbed as 'alternative rock', yet dabbles in a range of different genres, speeds and tones. Best described as a mix between alternative British rockers Radiohead and Placebo, Mr. Kito's compilations are a significant step away from the generic alt-rock sound. 

The first track on the album, 'Broken Arrow' has an electronic melody that flows throughout the song. Mr Kito is known for electronic influences, touching on this notion in his previous albums, My Tattooed Self and The Weatherman. In Broken Arrow, it is positive to see Mr Kito expanding and developing and expanding on sound from his previous work. 

Also, in juxtaposing songs such as Broken Arrow to Kito's previous work, it is interesting to note a shift in vocalisation. Vocal work dominates Kito's new sound, which is not particularly different from previous works, however the tone of his vocals has significantly changed. Songs including 'Broken Arrow', 'Illusion of a World' and 'Nowhere Else to Go' are more mellowed tracks that although slow, showcase Michot's vocal capabilities whilst drawing sharper attention to the lyrics of each song. 

The lyrics, which are also written by Michot himself, are quite abstract and experimental in content, which coincides with the album's experimental genre choices. On his inspiration for music and lyrical content, Michot says that he bases his inspiration on his experience of reality.

'Life and how I fit into it (what i experience at a given time) would be the source of inspiration. I aim to enter the state of presence as much as possible (mind less) and invite what ever would come from within...I believe we are interpreters of "what is",' he says.  

SB wire says that The Middle Of Everything represents 'a retrospective outlook on human behavior, seeking freedom from the mind of conceptualized created reality.' 

Since the start of his career, Michot's reality has been a string of successes. Receiving airplay in a number of international countries such as Sweden, Australia, France, Ireland and the United States, Mr. Kito has received what is labeled as an 'enviable response from music fans worldwide'. Earlier this year, Mr. Kito shot to number one place on the alternative charts for South Africa on music hosting site Reverbnation. 

Now, with a fan-base of over 150,000 online fans, including over 62,000 Twitter followers and 79,000 'likes' on Facebook, demand for Mr. Kito is rising at a rapid speed. Judging by Michot's ability for speedy releases, fans can most likely expect that a seventh album following The Middle of Everything will be released in the short future.  

You can download a copy of The Middle of Everything here

By Lily Pavlovic posted Friday 30, 2013, for STSBM

Trevor and the Joneses - Grooving at the Speed of Light

Picture source: http://trevorjones.bandcamp.com/

Artist: Trevor and the Joneses 

Track: Grooving at the Speed of Light

Genre: rock, rock-n-roll

Las Vegas rock-and-rollers Trevor and the Joneses are spreading their name across the United States and beyond with their 'ton of fun' single 'Grooving at the Speed of Light' from the album There Was Lightning. Forming only one year ago as a small garage-rock band, Trevor and the Joneses began their career performing at intimate venues, such as pubs, clubs and cafes in Vegas up to three times a weekend. Inspired by a plethora of award-winning rock bands such as the Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Replacements, Oasis, The Violent Femmes, Neil Young, Talking Heads, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Nada Surf and Vicky Cryer, Trevor and the Joneses worked to incorporate a large variation of rock styles to form their own unique sound. 

Trevor and the Joneses - Grooving at the Speed of Light

Lead singer Trevor Jones says that from a young age, the band members had been surrounded by music. The artists that they had listened to growing up then inspired the formation of the band. 

'Most of us grew up on classic rock and started playing music in some form as kids in different parts of the country, [whether it was] Nevada, Idaho, Michigan, Indiana, California, or Alabama. [Personally], Dad had been recording cassette tapes of tons of FM rock radio from the 70's and onwards. I got to hear a lot of stuff that they weren't, and still aren't playing on the radio anymore,' he says. 

Following in the footsteps of their idols, Trevor and the Joneses embarked on a touring spree within their hometown and surrounding areas to get their name into the public spectrum. The band successfully played over fifty shows within the year, before the release of their first studio album. 

Playing live seems to be the most enjoyable way for the band to get their music across to the people, but Jones notes that it is difficult to pinpoint what is helping to spread the music the most. 

'We've passed out hundreds of CDs all over the place...and we keep the various inter-web sites pretty up to date with shows, news and such [for our fans]', he says. 

As of late, one of the band's most catchy tracks seems to be 'Grooving at the Speed of Light'. This catchy classic rock track derives feelings of nostalgia for the classic upbeat rock of the eighties to the early noughties - reminiscent to the feel-good tune in The Violent Femme's 'Blister in the Sun', and drawing upon unique tambourine work parallel to songs such as 'Who?' by Brian Jonestown Massacre. 

Jones says the upbeat nature of the track correlated to the mood that the band we're in on a particular given day.

   'I wrote all those songs at the beach while I was living in California ... I wanted to go for a more positive message.'

'It was stream of conscious, although I'm pretty sure I was "thinking happy thoughts"', he says. 

The 'happy thoughts' within the track seem to have transferred to the fans of the album There Was Lightning. To large demand, Trevor and the Joneses are planning to tour across the 'left side of the slab of land' from their hometown to play to eager US fans this coming autumn. 

It may be a little while before Trevor and the Joneses hit Australian shores, however the band's long term outlook is plenty more music like Grooving At The Speed of Light. 

Within the coming years, the band aspires to be 'in the recording studio, several albums deep'.

Trevor and The Joneses are playing in Las Vegas for the month of August. 

By Lily Pavlovic posted Wed 14, 2013, for STSBM

Autumnal - Confess The Fire + FREE DL

Artist: Autumnal (Richard Besley)

Title: Confess The Fire

Genre: indie, pop, alternative, ballad 

Tracklist:

1. Arms of venus 03:55

2. Makes me happy 03:48

3. Confess the fire 04:08

4. Ghostdog 04:34

5. Kiss me you fool 03:35

6. Bamboozle 05:11

7. Dry your paws 03:36

8. Don't think I can do this anymore 03:14

9. Start the work 03:41

Track Review (Bamboozle):

Autumnal is an exciting band from Melbourne, Australia featuring lead singer-songwriter Richard Besley. Their most recent track ‘Bamboozle,’ is one to check out if you’re into an uplifting soft-rock listening. It’s a proper rock ballad - deep in meaning and impressive in melody. You can grab a free download below. 

Autumnal - Bamboozle + FREE DL

Track Review (Don't think I can do this anymore):

If you're into warm pop-rock tunes, and feel-good lyrics, then here is one track that can bring a smile to any listeners face. It's thoughtful and clever, with brilliant acoustic riffs that drive into spirit of this song. 

Autumnal - Don't think I can do this anymore + FREE DL

Traders - Quiet Riot

Artist: Traders

Title: Quiet Riot

Genre: indie, rock, electronic 

  Traders - Quiet Riot (Music Video)

Billy Talent - Show Me The Way

Artist: Billy Talent 

Title: Show Me The Way

Genre: pop, punk, rock 

Billy Talent - Show Me The Way (Music Video)

Culprit - Knock On The Sky

Artist: Culprit 

Title: Knock On The Sky

Genre: rock, punk

Culprit - Knock On The Sky (Music Video)

Asking Alexandria - Run Free

Artist: Asking Alexandria

Title: Run Free

Genre: post-hardcore, rock

Asking Alexandria - Run Free (Music Video)

We Are One - Take Me Under + FREE DL

Artist: We Are One

Title: Take Me Under

Genre: indie, pop, rock, screamo, alternative

If you enjoy light rock melodies, with impressive female screamo vocals, then We Are One is the band you should start following. They're different to other bands because their lead singer has great vocal control and displays incredible transitions from harsh/angry to meaningful and rhythmic. The pop vibe is also felt throughout the song, which is a big bonus is the commercial world of music. Check out their song "Darling" if you'd like to hear what jazz and rock sounds in one. Its an interesting but epic mix that I could see many enjoying. Take a listen to their music below. Did I mention the bonus of FREE DOWNLOADS? That's right, these guys are kind bunch. 

We Are One - Take Me Under + FREE DL

We Are One - Darling + FREE DL

Lionfight - VINE

Artist: Lionfight

Title: VINE

Genre: post-hardcore, rock, metal, screamo

Lionfight - VINE (Lyric Video)

Elephant's Laundry - Hell Inside My Head

Tracklist:

Title: Hell Inside My Head

Artist: Elephant's Laundry Feat Trish Edwick

Genres: Rock, Pop, Singer/Songwriter

Released: Apr 28, 2013

℗ 2013 Music Entourage

Follow:

@ElephantLaundry

www.youtube.com/user/TheElephantsLaundry

Review:

Elephant's Laundry has provided us with an exciting rock jammer in their most recent release 'Hell Inside My Head.'

Elephant's Laundry is a newly developed Aussi rock band, performing tunes that contain a great sense of rhythm, strong vocals, catchy drum leads, and head-banging guitar chords that phase imperceptibly between friendly pop-rock and rough punk music. Elephant's Laundry tend to rock up a beat by foregrounding the tracks with simple but emotive lyrics, involving the listener into a roller-coaster of a journey. 

The bands most recently publicised track 'Hell Inside My Head' is flavoured in an acoustic melody, and a powerful pop-rock finish. Everything about the song rocks! It’s a fun listening experience for mainstream pop-rock listeners. Hell Inside My Head is a fast cruiser with a punk-pop feel chorus and old-school rock verses. 

The music video presents viewers with a miniature film; with lyrical delivery which brings the song to a complete. Who can forget the repetitive but star line of the track "and now there's hell inside my hell." Trish Edwick's sweet vocals add to the emotional feel of the song. She's a great twist to the vocals, with her input being vital in the story-telling of this dynamic pop-rock tune.  

This is a band that is on MY HOT LIST radar, with their past singles being great hits too. I suggest all my readers to drop a subscription to the band on their Youtube page, and a follow on their Twitter page. With a proven successful entry into the musical realm of Australian Pop-Rock,  it can only be expected to see this band forecasted for much bigger productions. I wish the boys all the best. 

Elephant's Laundry - Hell Inside My Head (Music Video)

FROM RNB TO POP - MEET FOURTUNATE AN EXPLOSIVE AUSSI POP BOYBAND!

Title: Best Thing Ever

Artist: Fourtunate 
Digital Release: Apr 28, 2013

Similar Artist: One Direction, The Wanted, Stan Walker

From: Sydney, Australia

Genre: pop, soul, rnb, rock

Contact: http://www.youtube.com/user/Fourtunate2k11?feature=watch, http://www.fourtunate.com.au/, http://fourtunate.com.au/Bio.html, 

This is a fantastic vocal boy group that makes jamming pop releases.

Fourtunate - Best Thing Ever [Official Music Video]

FUN AND CATCHY POP-ROCK TRACK BY AUSSI GROUP!

Title: Do You Wanna Dance

Artist: Masketta Fall 
Digital Release: April 2013

Similar Artist: McFly

From: Melbourne, Australia

Genre: pop, pop-rock, punk 

Contact: http://www.maskettafall.tumblr.com, http://www.facebook.com/maskettafall, https://twitter.com/#!/maskettafall

This is a fun and cute music video by the newcomer Aussi boy-band Masketta Fall. This is definitely one of my favorite pop-rock tracks that have released from the recent months. It's got great lyrics, and the chorus is catchy and easy to sing along with. I could hear this song from start to finish, and have it set on repeat because it's that enjoyable. I'm very impressed with this band, and I'm looking forward to hear more from them. Hopefully their future releases are as catchy!

Watch this cute video below:

Masketta Fall - Do You Wanna Dance (Official Music Video)

Meet pop newcomer Greg Lato! Hear his cheery, feel good track "There's A Song For That!"

Title: There's a Song for That

Artist: Greg Lato 

Digital Release: April 2013

Similar Artist: Safety Suit, One Republic

From: USA

Genre: pop, pop-rock, electro, country

Contact: http://www.youtube.com/user/greglatomusic?feature=watch, http://www.greglato.com/, https://plus.google.com/u/0/112408146032734440363

Greg Lato knows how to make his fans smile, with a feel good pop-rock release and music video for his song There's A Song For That. Greg Lato may not have the most melodic voice to compete with mainstream artists, but he does make music from the heart, with meaning and emotion. He's a singer that everyone should take a look at, and even if his music isn't your sort of thing, it's still enough to get you in a good mood.

Check his video out below.

Greg Lato - There's a Song for That (Official Music Video)

HAVE YOU HEARD OF NEWCOMER BOY REKLESS?? CHECK HIS VIDEO OUT BELOW! + FREE DL

Title: Tossed Up

Artist: Boy Rekless

Digital Release: January, 2013

Similar Artist: T.Mills 

From: United States

Genre: electro, pop, dance, rap, rock 

Contact:http://www.BoyRekless.com/, http://www.ArtHouseEnt.com/, http://www.Twitter.com/BoyRekless, http://www.Facebook.com/BoyRekless

Boy Rekless showcases a lot of energy and vibe in his most latest track Tossed Up. If you enjoy a fusion of rock and pop in your collection of mainstream music, then this is the track you should take a listen too. It's very current sounding and would be vey popular amongst western young adult audiences, due to its fun, and catchy lyrical writing and upbeat pop melody. A song you should at-least hear to be amused and entertained with! 

Boy Rekless - Tossed Up + FREE DL

NEW ALBUM FILLED WITH POWERFUL POP-ROCK LOVE SONGS

Morgan Karr presents listeners with a collection of sweet pop-acoustic-rock love songs. I love the mix of fast tempo and hard-hitting emotional choruses against the slower downtempo verses.

Take a listen of his album Yellow Skies below!

HOT ALBUM RELEASE BY POP ARTIST TYLER CARMEN

Tyler Carmen's hot, latest album Turnin' Heads is fused with reggae instrumentals, latin infusions, pop ballads, club-pop tempos, and jamming dance beats.

Take a listen below: